Unusual Business

Photo credit: pixabay

Good morning to you, it's a brand new week and if you are reading this, you are alive and still have an opportunity to get it right or make it better.

Do something unusual today and just be happy for it. I'll share my story with you: I was held up in traffic recently and I saw an item that I wanted to buy a lot of. I called the street hawker and got just a few because I didn’t have enough cash on me.

As the traffic moved a bit, I had the strangest idea, I called him back and asked if I could buy more and then make an online transfer to him. Of course I expected him to just smile and say no, I was right about the first but not the second he smiled but said yes without thinking twice.

I found a corner and pulled over, this young man of not more than twenty three years old going by his look and demeanour ran to a small stall nearby and got more of the items. He came back and handed the goods over to me. I took my phone from my bag and went on to make a transfer to him.

The second surprise of the evening came when I asked for his bank, I was expecting to hear one of the common banks like the orange bank or the green bank or the elephant bank but he mentioned a bank that I see as a bank for the top shots and at that point, I looked up at him.

“You are a big boy oh” I said to him and he gave another heartfelt smile. I asked if he knew that his bank was one for the big players, he said yes and we both laughed. Then I saw his name, and as expected, he was my brother and I said as much to him. The transaction went through and he was visibly happy, I was happy too; I never imagined that I would make that sort of unusual business transaction while in traffic.

Just as I was about to leave, he asked if he could have my number and I accepted, he didn’t have a phone and so I had to write out my number for him. Some may say that it was wrong to have given him my number but I don’t agree with that, what can possibly happen?

As we both looked for a pen, I checked in my car and bag while he called out to his other colleagues to see if anyone had a pen, I noticed that other motorists kept starring at both of us, and especially the women who looked at me like “is she okay? What on earth is she discussing with this hoodlum and why are they laughing happily?”

Isn’t that how we reason sometimes? The class thing, he is a street urchin anyway and why descend so low but this young man trusted me enough to let me do an online transfer for him, some transactions reverse after some minutes and if it had been the case, I would have been long gone and it would be his loss.

Gratefully I wrote down my name, Amaka and phone number and gave to him, I thought of all sorts like what if he gets involved in a crime and the police find my name on him in my own handwriting, well I believe that the truth surely sets free.

He said he would call me to know if I wanted more of the things that I bought from him (keep thinking of what it was that I bought. Hahahaha). It is Christmas and there is a gift for anyone who makes a right guess of the item and I am serious. (clue: common traffic item, not gala please).

As I parked and made this purchase, I also remembered that I read somewhere that some people were arrested for buying things in traffic, if they had caught me, I’m sure I would have bagged myself like ten years. Lol! Are these people for real? What is the plan for the street hawkers? So typical of the authorities, good at banning but will never make provisions for the expected outcomes.

Well I made myself a new friend in traffic though I am yet to receive his call, I pray to be a positive influence in his life and he in mine. I didn’t see a street hawker, I saw beyond that, I saw a boy who had to grow into a man before he was ready to, I saw a young boy determined to succeed against all odds, I saw a genuinely pleasant young man who could do quite well in customer relations and business strategy.

This was a young man who had grown above his challenges and who does not go with the band wagon, his choice of bank confirmed this.

In a different circumstance, this boy would do exploits and that is not to say that he is not already doing exploits in his space. I am really happy that our paths crossed that evening, I encouraged him to keep working hard and being good and he thanked me from the bottom of his heart.

If we never see again, I hope that the few words I said to him will never be forgotten, I was touched positively by him and hope that I was able to do same for him. 

My encounter with this young chap made me very happy and I pray your unusual business today makes you really happy. 

If you are having a dull morning, wake up my friend and don't just smell the coffee, sip it all up and make yourself another cup!